JODIAN MCNAB, is one of the more than 15,000 public servants who have been asked to forego a wage increase under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).The MoU was signed with the Government and trade unions in February, last year.
But for the teacher of 11 years, this is a big sacrifice, one that has seen a complete depletion of her disposable income and has forced her to shelve her future plans for upgrading herself.
"This holding out (MoU) ... I can't survive because there is no disposable income," said Mrs. McNab.
She said she has been feeling the pinch because her bills, including her light, water, food and most recently, bus fares, have gone up.
"I feel trapped. It is pure wickedness to do this to us. I hope that we will never ever sign another MoU," she said bitterly.
As a senior teacher at a prominent high school in St. Thomas, she earns a little over $44,000 after statutory deductions. Before the MoU, she earned in the region of $43,000.
Prior to the MoU, this was what her budget looked like for the month:
Light $2,000
Phone (including internet bill) $ 3,000
Mortgage $13,000
Car loan $17,000
Water $700
Food and toiletries $10,000
Transportation $8,000
Today, this is what her budget looks like:
Light (close to) $3,000
Water $700
Telephone $5,000
Food and toiletries $14,000
Travelling (unable to determine).
Mrs. McNab pointed out that things could have been worse if she had children to send to school. Nevertheless things are still tough on the McNab family as Mr. McNab is also a public servant.
"There is no cushioning. We just have to buy less. I cannot afford to indulge ... I hardly shop for clothes," she said, when asked what she has put in place to make life easier for the family.
Colin Blake, a diploma-trained teacher of 14 years at a primary school in St. Catherine, is having a hard time balancing his budget on a $32,000 per month salary.
"It is a matter of having to short, and 'tie yuh belly'," he said with a sigh.
"Everything is going up and you have to make the sacrifice," he said.
Mr. Blake was unable to give an account of what his expenditure was like before the MoU but his monthly expenditure is now:
Rent $9,000
Mortgage (for his land) $12,000
Utilities $6,000
Taxi fare $8,000
Food $10,000
Mr. Blake, who is also studying, has to pay $63,000 per year in school fees as he pursues his degree.
He however considers his family fortunate, as he has no children and has the help of his wife. But he still has to put his plans on hold.
"I have to forego working on my own house, I have to continue taking taxis. Some of the things I normally do for recreation and personal satisfaction, I have to pass on them," he said.
Mrs. Janet Clarke not her real name also a teacher, complained that her family of four, including two young children, has been living below the
poverty line, since the MoU.
"Expenditure has gone up, my standard of living has gone down," she said.
This is what her monthly income looks like:
Food $12,000
Light $2,500
Telephone $1,500
Fuel $6,000
Day care $4,000
Rent $12,000
Mortgage (on her land) $10,000
Mrs. Clarke said she has to conserve as much as possible to help the family get by.
Some of these conservations include cutting back on entertainment, carrying lunch to school and selling her car.
- D.R.
